The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-23

WOHdn naQ CnOugnJ Oh ner as mourning
but child before. Now, as she passed out
of the store, 1 felt that she carried with her
an immense slice from the choicest side of
my heart; and at subsequent meetings she
managed to rob me of the rest so that be-
fore the end of the month was completely
her slave, although no more so than dozen
of our young men, who also worshiped at
her shrine, and who Miss Nellie Pinman
denominated "MedOra's chain-gang."
suppose we were all desperately in love,
but not one of us could claim to have been
more highly favored than another, or at
least l could not, for when she began to
suspect what my intentions were q did not
try to conceal my loye, though dared not
hope it would ever be requited), she became
very reserved with me, which l, wisely or
not, supposed was intended on her part to
give your humble servant to understand
that she was not for him AZ least.
But with this exception, she showed no
Partially for one more than another This
was tantalizing, to say the least If she
went 10 ride with Smithers one day, she
was sure to ride with Brown the next. If
she went to lecture with White she would
go to concert with Green, Black, or Gray.
''She's coquette," said Smithers.
81 think not" said Brown. ''She hasn't
given single gentleman in Larragona any
reason TO suppose that she is, or can be,
any thing more than friend to him. Is it
her fault that you are all so madlv in love
with her2 We buzz around her like a
swarm of bees. We can't keep away. Now
what would you have her do, forbid every
gentleman except yourself to enter the
house,"
mo, but she might show her prefer
ence," answered Smithers.
eyes, if she has any"
"Well, of course she has"
" You think So"
This conversation, which took place in
my store one afternoon about six weeks
after Miss Budderfii's return home might
have taken very unpleasant turn at this
point but for the entrance of couple of
ladies' One was Lawyer Dunready's wife,
and the other was a stranger to US all.
Ihastened to wait upon Mrs. Dunready,
while the strange lady stopped at the show
case at the further end of the counter l
am quite intimate with the Dunreadys-I
stood godfather to their only son, a late ar
rival in Larragona-and am pretty well ac-
quainted with all their relations and
friends" but here was one that had never
seen before. Leaning over cut Of sheeting
which Mrs. Dunready was examining, l
whispered my question POLITICALLY, thus
who is the maid with golden hair,
With eyes of fire and foot of air?H
'Pshaw Leda wears a number six boot,
and her eyes are a sky blue" answered
Mrs. Dunready. "She is a widow and my
cousin, Mrs Vastings. She was married
eight years ago and went to Chicago. Has
just returned to the East, and l hope she
will remain. Shall / introduce youa"
"By all means"
The lady swept along toward US. She
was really magnifcent-looking woman
She smiled graciously upon me when the
introduction was made, and every body
knows what a widows smile is. A pretty
maiden's is'lilIe sunshine, but Widows is
sunshine after rain-perfectly glorious!
She was of blonde complexion, with the
most wonderful golden hair; and more
wonderful still it was all her own, not even
excepting the color. Then she had voice
low and soft as doves, and the most eX-
quisite nose! Lips ''lilze thread of scar
let" and teeth-but let us let them alone,
they were beautiful, but who made them
so! never knew the dentists name.
AT last Mrs. Dunready, having completed
her purchases, turned to go.
"Why haven't you called upon us, Mr..
Jonjones." she asked; and the Widows
eyes said ''why don't you!"
1--WE been thinking of it for some time -
returned.
as it subject that requires great deal
of thought?' inquired the widow, with a
witchlng little smile playing around the
| corners Of those scarlet lips.
mo, not now"
''You will come up this evening, per-
haps?" said Mrs. Dunready.
eyes"
The ladies bowed and withdrew.
And so that evening l spent at Mrs. Dun
ready's. But on my way there was obliged
to pass Mr.. 0Budderfli's, and there on the
piazza was Medora and her friends, Miss
Pinman and Miss Clintoe, surrounded by
Brown, Smithers and Black l touched my
hat to the ladies and passed on, and thought
that Medora must have experienced a sense
of relief that one of her admirers had with
drawn. for one evening at least.
L found Dunready and the ladies as
sembled on the lawn in front Of the house,
engaged in game of croquet.
"Ah, Jonjones," cried Dunready, 'you
| are just in season to commence the game
| with US"
''Leda was just Washington would Gomez
odlu ulo WIG, Will d ullSCuleNOuS SulllG dl
| her fair friend.
| The widow blushed as much as it was pos
| sible for a widow to, and looked down,
knowing perhaps that her eyelashes were
| quite long and really worth showing.
Ills sweet to know there is an eye will mark
| Our coming and look brighter when we come,
| l quoted, jestingly
II am glad that you think such knowl
edge is sweet. l shall begin to have hopes
of you, Notwithstanding l have hitherto
considered You such an incorrigible old
bachelor" said Mrs. Dunready, driving
her ball through the first wicket.
Old bachelor! How could she be so cruel
to me when a handsome widow stood with
| in the sound of her voice. | was certain
that looked much younger, but that ex-
preston would carry the idea that was
much older than | really was. have al
ways been very reticent upon the subject
of my age and as / am not a native of Lar
ragona; in fact, had only been resident
| there about ten years at that time, there
fore no one knew how long had been an
inhabitant of this terrestrial sphere, and
was certainly not only young looking man
but rather good-looking, too, if do say it
But had a secret that. if known, would
have materially affected the general I'M
preston regarding the number of year:
that had circled over my head, and conse
quently whenever the slightest allusior
was made to my age | trembS,d and turned